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"What of me?" asked Alia, who had listened without apparent interest "I am no ally of this Liathano, whom I do not meet or know I am no ally of these womans who are sorcerers, who mean to do ainst them"

Henry drained his cup of wine and called for another Beside him, Adelheid sat with the composure of stone Only her hairfro "If I send an eotiations"

Alia’s jaw tightened as she regarded hih the gateway that leads to our country"

"So you say But you are here"

She opened her left hand, paledly across the palm "I am what you call in your words a sorcerer, Henri"

"Do we not already harbor ht travel as you did We are not powerless"

"Father!" protested Theophanu, although she glanced toward Adelheid, "you would not allow condee--?"

Henry lifted a hand to stop her She broke off, looked at Rosvita, then folded her hands in her lap and regarded the opposite wall--and the tapestry depicting St Thecla’s draught of the holy cup of waters--with a fixed gaze

"You do not understand the structure of the universe, Henri I was born in exile, and for that reason I can travel in the aether I have walked the spheres None alant’s lipsa word, but he made no sound

Henry shook his head "How can I believe such a fantastic story? Itby a poet in the feast hall I andsouth to Aosta to restore Queen Adelheid to her throne You may march with us, if you will A place at ard Sanglant, who stood with hands fisted and expression pulled doith i a an to expect that no person would gainsay him, even his father "You, Son, may iveness for your disobedience I will show every honor due to a grandchild of hter, as she deserves There is a place for you in my army If you ask for it"

"You believe none of it," said Sanglant softly

Henry sipped at his wine, then spun the eers as he conte lord "How can I believe such an outrageous story? I aiveness, you ations your duty to me entails"

"Then I will look elsewhere for support"

The words struck the asse

Villa of you, do not speak rash words--"

"I do not speak rashly," said Sanglant harshly "You have not seen what I have seen You do not understand Anne’s power nor her ruthlessness"

"What do you mean, brother?" asked Theophanu She had distanced herself so completely from Rosvita after the escape frouess whaton in her mind "If your words and the words of your mother are true, then it would appear to me that this woman, Anne, seeks to protect Earth froainst her unless you have thrown in your lot with your ht all be a diversion to aid theled in Heribert’s ar for theand face screwed up with frustration

"Ma! Ma!" she cried, wriggling and reaching so that Heribert could barely keep hold of her as she squirealed at the center of the cha la unshuttered, pale tendrils of ered, made dizzy by this abrupt displacement of what she knew and understood while all around her the people in the roo in fright Adelheid rose to her feet Henry reon heads carved into the armrests of his chair

"Ma!" cried the baby

There caht have been a dream